Analysis Questions
1. Analyze Describe the overall structure of Kurzweil’s article. Is this structure effective for
the kind of information he wants to convey? Explain.
The article has a formal structure with several sections. An introduction announces the
author’s bold predictions, four body sections develop these ideas, and a conclusion both
summarizes the argument and raises more questions. This structure is effective because it
allows the author to present and explain the technological details with which he supports
his argument.
2. Critique Review the analogy that Kurzweil makes between biological evolution and
technological evolution beginning in line 45. What is the crucial point of similarity
between these two processes?
The crucial similarity between biological and technological evolution is the exponential
speed at which they develop.
3. Interpret Kurzweil writes, “After decades of devoted service, Moore’s Law will have
run its course around 2019. By that time, transistor features will be just a few atoms in
width” (lines 81–83). What is Moore’s Law? How will growth in computing technology
continue after 2019?
Moore’s Law states that computers double in capacity and speed per unit cost every 24
months. Growth will continue through new architectures such as computing cubes,
nanotube circuits, optical computing, crystalline computing, and molecular computing.
4. Connect In lines 99–107, Kurzweil introduces the Law of Accelerating Returns. At the
start of the section “Programming Intelligence,” he makes an analogy between human
intelligence and a computer’s hardware and software. Explain the analogy and how it
supports the author’s predictions about the future.
Kurzweil compares the human brain to the hardware and software of a computer. If these
are analogous and if computers continue to become more and more powerful, it should be
possible to create a computer with the “software” of the human brain paired with an
infinitely greater calculating capacity, which will revolutionize society.
5. Analyze The technical term reverse-engineer is introduced in line 138. Explain what this
term means in the context of the example Kurzweil gives. How does the concept of
reverse-engineering help support his predictions?
Reverse-engineering is the process of discovering how something works by taking it
apart and using it as a model. Reverse-engineering the human brain and applying this
knowledge could help computers become more intelligent, as Kurzweil predicts.
6. Analyze Reread lines 117–123. How would you describe the author’s tone in this
paragraph? Is his tone consistent throughout the article?
Kurzweil’s tone in this paragraph is authoritative but humorous (when he confesses that
his calculations “may be off by a year or two”). This is not exactly consistent with his
otherwise lively but earnest tone.
7. Summarize Reread the last three paragraphs of the article. How would you summarize
the conclusions Kurzweil draws about the future of artificial intelligence? In other words,
what is his point of view on the topic?
Kurzweil predicts that computers will not only surpass humans in intelligence but will
also develop the next step in intelligence.
8. Evaluate Based on the information presented throughout the article, do you find
Kurzweil’s conclusions persuasive? Explain why or why not.
Possible answers: Yes, because of all his evidence and his own track record as an
inventor. No, because he has not sufficiently addressed the unique nature of human
intelligence.